Sports

Gio Santiago Wins Suffolk County Title

Captures 182-pound title, while handful of other grapplers from North and East place.

If you looked down to check a text message or take a phone call you might have missed Gio Santiago’s bout.

The Sachem North junior, wrestling in the 182-pound final at the Doc Fallot Suffolk County Wrestling Tournament, pinned Nick Bellanza from John Glenn in 52 seconds to capture a county championship in the gymnasium at Stony Brook University Saturday night.

“I thought it would be a close score,” he said. “I came in there, did what I had to do and gave it everything. I took a fake shot and he walked into it and I put him right on his back. I caught him off guard. It was the greatest feeling in the world.”

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Santiago, now 36-2 this season, gets an automatic bid to the New York State Wrestling Tournament later this month in Albany.

After the referee raised Santiago’s hand in victory, he looked towards the crowd and fired off a fake arrow into the stands.

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“I knew what I was going to do,” he said. “It was something cool for the guys and TV.”

For Santiago, winning a title is something he’s envisioned since the 2010-11 season when he placed fifth in the county.

“I said I want that, I want my hand raised at the end and I did it,” he said. “At states, I’m going to prove to everybody that I’m somebody in wrestling.”

Santiago is the 40th wrestler in Sachem North history to win a county championship (37 under former legendary coach Jack Mahoney and three under current coach Ray Pickersgill). As a result, his photo will go on the wall in the Jack Mahoney Wrestling Room at Sachem High School North, a coveted honor reserved for the highest champions in program history.

“A lot of guys that are really good try to avoid Gio’s strengths,” Pickersgill said. “[Bellanza] played right into Gio’s strength. Realistically, if people try to go head-to-head with him it’s not going to last very long. He was the first seed and never backed down from it.”

North's Mills is Runner-Up

Sachem North senior Steve Mills lost, 6-2, in the 220-pound final to Commack’s David Rubino.

In a questionable call in the match, Mills was not awarded two points for what appeared to be a take down. That would have tied the score and made it a different match.

“I feel bad because he deserved to win and he didn’t,” said Pickersgill. “He worked hard.”

Sachem East Finishes Third Overall

Sachem East tied a program high by finishing third overall in total points (119) behind Brentwood (151) and Longwood (144.5). The Arrows also had six county place winners.

“A total team effort,” said Sachem East coach Sean O’Hara. “It’s a very tough tournament and to be right at the top of the pack was a nice job by our guys.”

Anthony Pistone lost to Corey Rasheed from Longwood by pin at 3:58 in the 145-pound final.

“Anthony Pistone had a great tournament,” O’Hara said. “He went out, went after it and did the best he could.”

Pistone and Mills will find out this week if they are wild card selections for the state tournament.

Championship Finals (with Sachem wrestlers only)

  • 145: Corey Rasheed (Longwood) def. Anthony Pistone (S. East), Pin at 3:58
  • 182: Gio Santiago (S. North) def. Nick Bellanza (Glenn), Pin at 0:52
  • 220: David Rubino (Commack) def. Steven Mills (S. North), 6-2

Consolation Finals

  • 126: Marc Gonzalez (Brentwood) def. Conor O'Hara (S. East), 5-2
  • 145: Billy Merone (S. East) def. Sam Rachman (John Glenn), 5-2
  • 195: Christian Nunez (S. East) def. Nick Weber (Kings Park), Pin at 1:46

Fifth and Sixth Place Finals

  • 120: Travis Passaro (Eastport-South Manor) def. Mike Rothbaum (S. East), 5-2
  • 138: Jackson Mordente (S. East) def. Zach Lugo (Deer Park), 2-0
  • 195: Anthony Confessore (S. North) def. Devin Doran (W. Floyd), 2-0

Division I Top 10

  1. Brentwood, 151
  2. Longwood, 144.5
  3. Sachem East, 119
  4. Connetquot, 114
  5. John Glenn, 90.5
  6. Hauppauge, 88.5
  7. Sachem North, 73
  8. Eastport-South Manor, 72
  9. Shoreham-Wading River, 71
  10. Half Hollow Hills West, 70.5


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